Bunghole stopper



V R.'E. LENAHAN.

` 1921. 1,41 1,853. Patented Apr. 4, 192.2.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

ROBERT EMMETT LENAHAN, 0F B'UELL, VIRGINIA.

BUNGHOLE STOPPER.

To all w/om t may concer/1L Ile it known that I. Irman'r IC. LENAHAN,

ol' Buell, .in the county or Norfolk and State o'l li'irginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bunghole Stoppers; and I do hereby declare the 'following to be a full, clear, and exact description et the invention, such as Will enable others sl-:illed in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In the painting or other coating ot barrels and similar containers provided with a bung-hole from which the contents are to be discharged much care is required to prevent the applied material from entering the barrel through such opening and dcleteriously commingling `with the substance to be placed in the barrel. In order to effectively guard against accidental entrance olii'the coating material through the bung-hole I provide a simple and .inexpensive device adaptedtor instant temporary plugging of the bunghole and one which is capable ol continued use and in connection With containers having varied sizes ot bung-holes.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view ot my improved device. Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the stopper inserted in position in the bung-hole ot a barrel. Figure 3 is a front elevation.

I preferably ferm .my improved stopper oi metal and find that copper especially suitable t'or that purpose. The device in cludes truncated cone il:a the base el' which is secured to a plate Q which thus vterms a lateral flange for the cone, To the smaller end of the cone is secured a strip-3 oiE spring metal, this strip being permanently attached to the cone centrally ot' the length of the strip. with its ree ends at, 5, bent into spaced parallelism with the sides of the cone. The ends of the strip thus forni a wedge for engaging the wall of a bung-hole and eilectively retain the stopper in position. )is stated, the device .is preferably made ot metal, and I have found that a highly satisfactory and cheaply construdted article or' the character described is produced by cutting a circular `plate and removing its center, the cone being joined to the plate Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4r, 1922. 1921. Serial No. 473,736.

by soldering its base to the outer face of the plate. The truncated end ot' the cone is closed by the strip 3 soldered thereto, the strip thus becoming an inseparable part of the cone. As an aid in withdrawing the stopper from the container I provide a grip piece G diametrally of the open end of the cone and form this preferably from strong wire.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent. It is manifest that the device, a one-piece article, is readily fitted in the bung-hole of a barrel or other container and that when so inserted it eliectively closes the bung-hole as against entrance ot the substance with which a barrel is being' coated, it being unnecessary that care be exercised by the one applying the paint since the temporary stopper precludes all application of the paint so closely adjacent the bung-hole as to be harmful. It is further to be observed that the construction of the device is such that it is adaptable tor va` rious sizes of openings.

I claim as my invention:

l. A temporary stopper for bung-holes including a cone-like member, and a flexible metallic strip secured to said cone-like member. the ends ot said strip extending in spaced parallelism with said cone-like member and forming a wedging means ior securing said stopper in bung-hole.

2. A temporal?,v stopper for bung-holes including a conelike member having its base terminating in a lateral :flange` and means secured 'to the opposite end ol said cone-like member ior wedging it in position in a bung-hole.

3. A temporary stopper for bung-holes including a cone-like member having its base terminating in a lateral flange, and a flexible metallic strip secured to the smaller end ot the cone, the ends of said strip extending in spaced parallelism with said cone, and forming a. Wedging means tor holdingl said stopper in a bung-hole.

In testimony Whereoil I have signed this specification.

ROBERT EMMETT LENAHAN. 

